Disadvantages Of Ethanol

You've probably heard from your workplace or from the media about the advantages of using ethanol fuel as an alternative to fuel gasoline. Ethanol is a plant based alcohol that is used as fuel. It comes from corn, wheat, cellulose, sugarcane and other renewable sources. Unlike petroleum based fossil fuels the production of ethanol can continue in unlimited capacity because the sources from which it comes can be planted and replanted. Ethanol is alcohol that is used in beverages however before being turned into fuel a denaturant like gasoline is added to the mix.


One advantage of ethanol is the impact on the ozone layer. Ethanol does not emit the same level of harmful polluting emissions that gasoline does. For this reason a small amount of ethanol is found in conventional gasoline to make it burn cleaner. However what we are talking about here is E85, the fuel that is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. There are more than 400 filling stations and millions of cars using E85. This does not mean that this fuel source is not without its downsides.

Some opponents of ethanol say it takes away from the world's food source by using up corn and wheat. While the use of inedible cellulose is being considered and studied as a possible solution this issue is currently on the table, so to speak. Another thing you may not like about ethanol is its mileage. When compared to gasoline you'll get 10 to 30 percent fewer miles to the gallon. If your vehicle is made to be very fuel efficient this may not be a concern but if you have a gas guzzler or converted older vehicle mileage may be an issue.

When discussing the disadvantages of ethanol fuel it should also be mentioned that in the winter users have a harder time starting their vehicles on average. This does not affect drivers in sunny climates but for anyone who is in a cold climate or is experiencing the winter season it may be a problem. Before deciding on ethanol as an investment or as a fuel for your vehicle, you should weigh the pros and cons before making any hasty decisions. There are plenty of resources both online and in books that can help you sort out the advantages and disadvantages of plant based fuel.



People & Power - Ethanol & Bio-fuels - 17 Sep 07 - Part 1

 



The Original Revolutionary Fuel-Saving Technology

 

Ethanol Fuel News:

 

Agriculture to Benefit from E15
The Environmental Protection Agency reviews a proposal to approve the use of 15 percent ethanol blend as a means to meet the 2022 Renewable Fuel Standards, according to the Farmland Forecast Blog at Agweb.com...


Fed-Funded Algae Fuel Research making a Strong Comeback
Algae fuel is a biofuel, which is derivative of algae. In 1978, Former President Jimmy Carter pulled the trigger on a 25 million dollar research project into algae fuel production...


Yamaha Outboards: Ethanol fuels can cause issues for boaters.
YamahaOutboards: Ethanol fuels can cause issues for boaters. Protect your outboard by using a filter and performing regular upkeep. Video Link...


BlueFire Ethanol Fuels Names Roger Petersen as New Board Member
During their annual shareholder meeting on Thursday, July 15, BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc. , a company focused on changing the world's transportation fuel paradigm through the production of renewable fuels from non-food cellulosic ...


[Read More]
For months, the corn ethanol industry has been pushing the Obama administration for permission to increase the amount of ethanol that can be blended into the US gasoline supply...


Column for week of July 28-August 4 2010//694 words//from Bill Roy I.
I spent several hours in this pre-primary week, mostly on the computer, trying to find something about the Tiahrt-Moran race for the Republican nomination for the U. S. Senate that I had missed or ignored...




The Original Revolutionary Fuel-Saving Technology


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